Willow Point Golf & Country Club

It had been 12 years since I'd played Willow Point in the old Alabama Intercollegiate, and three years since I'd visited Willow Point for the 2000 State Amateur Championship. So it was with a sense of great anticipation that I visited this course recently with an idyllic setting on the shores of Lake Martin. Naturally I knew somewhat of the grandiose plans to redesign the course, but now having played it and talked to many of the principals involved I can truly say I was blown away by what has happened down at Willow Point, close to Alexander City.

The design team of Dr. Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry, together with course builder Landscapes Unlimited, have done a masterful job of enhancing what was already there and adding so, so much more.

This had been planned for a long time. We did a lot of research in regards to who to bring in to do the work. David Pursell (CEO of Pursell Technologies in Sylacauga) is a member here and he had chosen Hurdzan/Fry to design his course (FarmLinks). David does everything first-class and is very well respected in the golf industry. We visited FarmLinks, and with Michael and Dana. They fit what we were looking for. We already had a strong reputation, so we didn't need a (household) name to attract members. What we needed was a group who would do good work, with solid credentials (they were named 2001 Course Architects of the Year).

Initially a complete redesign was not the mandate.

We knew we had to redo the greens, tees, irrigation and bunkers and take better advantage of our No. 1 asset: Lake Martin. The more we got into it, we were going to be spending millions and shutting the course down for an extended period anyway, we decided to do so much more. It was a once in a generation type of thing.

Willow Point was designed nearly 40 years ago by Tuscaloosa native Tommy Nichol. Very little had been done in the interim. It was time for change and Hurdzan/Fry have undoubtedly delivered the goods.

Upwards of $8.3 million has been spent, which includes the course redesign and construction, as well as a substantial addition to the clubhouse. A tremendous amount of money, but the result is just spectacular.

Lamberth continues:

We knew our back nine was a really good nine holes of golf and needed no major changes, except bringing the lake more into play and view. Hurdzan/Fry brought us many routings for the front nine; they were very easy to work with and the more we got into it with them, the more the front nine changed and evolved.

Director of Golf Steve Lyles has been at Willow Point since 1969 and course superintendent Cole McInnis has 20 years of service himself, so both their opinions were welcomed.

We told them we wanted to eliminate any blind shots, maintain player-friendly entrances to the greens, have no out of bounds and continue to be branded as a championship layout. They were building on our reputation and delivered on all aspects, Lyles said.

So it was that the course closed Oct. 13, 2002 and one year to the day later it reopened to host the annual Russell Lands Boy Scout Pro-Am.

McInnis' biggest challenge was, and will be, the switch to A1/A4 bent grass greens. So far he gets an A+ as the greens were absolutely perfect when I visited. A good speed and not a blemish on them.

I was concerned about bent grass greens, Lamberth said. But two things persuaded me otherwise. First, the annual expense of maintaining them is no more than tift eagle Bermuda, as it evens out over the year. Second, new technology. We have installed a sub-air system under every green and given our site we have no problem with air circulation.

Also, we see our future growth continuing to come from cities like Birmingham and Atlanta. People from these cities are more used to bent.

With all the work being undertaken on the course it was decided to make some additions to the clubhouse. The primary change is to the right of the clubhouse (looking from the 18th hole), where the cart storage facility has been relocated. Above this office space, a grill and large outdoor patio area have been added. Most distinctive extensive rock work has been added in front of this part of the clubhouse to break up the sprawl of what has become a very long building.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say. How has the membership responded?

We hired some membership consultants, Lamberth said. They said typically clubs could expect to lose 10 percent of their membership when shutting down for a lengthy period of time. We planned on that. Word got out that there would be no assessment to the membership, but that down the road we would be raising dues and our initiation fees. We had an avalanche of applications for membership. We have ended up with a net of 100 new members. That's a gain of 15 percent.

It is certainly a club and location many people would desire to be part of with Lake Martin coming into play on 12 holes. This man-made lake was built 90 years ago and features 750 miles of shoreline (the most on any Alabama lake). Russell Lands owns approximately a third of the total shoreline, with the rest divided up between the power company and private landowners.

It's time to take a closer look at the course itself.

Stretching all the way back to 7465 yards from the black tees it was rebuilt for the future. With six sets of tees there is a yardage for everyone. Before you tee off you will invariably want to hit a few balls to warm up. There you instantly see the first major change. The driving range now plays back down where the old ninth hole used to be found. The pond has been filled in and tees placed at either end. At the far end of the range there is an excellent short game area with large putting and chipping greens.

The one thing that hasn't changed at Willow Point is the feel of two completely different nines. The front retains, for the first six holes, a tree-lined, enclosed feel. The new first is a stout opening par 4, measuring 458 yards from the back with bunkers either side of the landing area off the tee.

No. 2 is the old No. 8 played in reverse. It swoops downhill through the trees. No. 3 is a man-sized par 5 played in the opposite direction to the old No. 7, always one of the toughest holes on the old course. Undoubtedly a three-shotter, the difficulty hasn't changed as it is rated the No. 1 handicap hole. The hole moves from left to right and is uphill all the way. A very deep bunker guards the front of the raised green.

After you've finished the hole take a look back down it and you'll be greeted with a gorgeous view, with Lake Martin providing the back drop.

The fourth stretches from a hefty 253 yards all the way to a much more manageable 142 yards. Played into the prevailing wind, par will always be a good score on this first of the four par threes. It plays slightly uphill, with the tee close to the formal entrance to the club. A bank to the right of the green will kick many a ball hard to the left.

Cross the entrance road and you find the fifth tee on the site of the old sixth green. This is a breather hole and a birdie chance, as is the par 5 sixth, with its green found close to that of the old third hole.

Leave the sixth green, pass by the side of the clubhouse and you will reach the seventh tee. The rest of the course is wide open with all encompassing views of the lake. No. 7 plays in the same direction as the old first hole, but is a par 4.

The eighth is a lovely short par 3. Played toward an inlet of the lake, it features a huge green and a large bunker front right. Extensive rock work surrounds the green.

The nine concludes with the lengthy ninth hole played uphill and back toward the left side of the clubhouse. Bunkers all around the green will provide ample challenge, as will the fact that you will be hitting a long iron or fairway wood for your second shot.

With all due respect to the masterful job done on the very enjoyable front nine, this is where the golf course that has made Willow Point so well known really starts. The back nine routing is essentially unchanged, save for the 17th and 18th holes switching pars, but Hurdzan and Fry have brought the lake much more into play.

No. 10 is truly a WOW hole right off the bat.

It hugs a sliver of water down the entire left side, with a split fairway to aim toward. Don't go left at all costs as I found out to my detriment. Rather, favor the right side and then face a fairly short second shot to a deep green, but don't go long as Lake Martin is ready to swallow up any shot misjudged too long.

Keep the platitudes coming as the par 3 11th is a stunner. Played over a pond short, with Lake Martin once again providing the backdrop. Hitting the huge green shouldn't be too much of a problem, hitting it close to the flag will be far more of a challenge.

The par 5 12th has been considerably improved upon. Previously from the tee you couldn't see precisely where the water to the left cut into the fairway. Now all is clear, with a rock wall built around the perimeter of this finger of water that can be carried by a long drive. This will bring the green into range with two big shots, with the lake glistening in the background.

No. 13 is the equal of No. 11, probably an even stronger hole. This par 3 plays slightly downhill to what is effectively an island green. The toughest flag would be back left as a bunker guards this corner and you have to clear more of the water to get at this flag. Par here, wherever the flag is located, is always a good score.

The 14th is another super hole. This dogleg moves substantially from left to right. The best line is a slight fade played off of the pine trees to the left. This should leave a long to mid iron to a green set against the shoreline.

Nos. 15-17 are similar length par fours (in the 420 to 440-yard range) that play back and forth alongside each other. The pick is probably No. 16 as you have to position your tee shot on the left half of the fairway to get the best look at the green set against the lake. The green on No. 17 is one of the trickiest on the course, with a false front to avoid, as well as three bunkers around its perimeter.

So we reach the final hole. The sprawling clubhouse stands sentinel beyond the massive green. This par 5 is reachable in two shots by the bigger hitters, especially as the wind will invariably be coming off the lake and be at your back. The split fairway is divided by two deep bunkers smack in the landing area off the tee. Favor the left side as it will leave the best angle for your second shot. Should you need to lay up there are all sorts of bunkers dotting the fairway, as there are around the sloping green.

Birdie is a definite chance and certainly it would be a great way to end a round on what has once again become a jewel in the crown of Alabama golf. From where I'm standing, it truly lives up to the claim on its' scorecard: America's Most Beautiful Lakeside Course.